Technological Hybridization and Economic Resilience in the Horticultural Sector of Santa (Cameroon), 1980-2017

This paper explores the technics and developmental stages that defined the rise of market gardening in Santa Sub Division, Cameroon, following the decline of the coffee economy in the 1980s.Using oral testimonies, archival material, and field observations, the study examines how local farmers transitioned from export-dependent coffee cultivation to a diversified horticultural system rooted in indigenous agency and adaptive innovation.Key findings reveal that the success of market gardening hinged on structured stagesland preparation, seed selection, irrigation, pest control, harvesting, and decentralized market distribution.The study further establishes that these techniques were shaped by both inherited farming knowledge and the selective adoption of modern inputs such as chemical fertilizers and mechanized tools.In addition, market gardening enhanced economic inclusion, especially for women and youth, and allowed farmers greater control over pricing and production cycles.Ultimately, the paper argues that the technics and stages of market gardening in Santa reflect a broader postcolonial shift toward local autonomy, resilience, and self-directed rural development.